Reducing Lecture and Increasing Student Activity in Computer Science Courses Roy P. Pargas Clemson University ITiCSE 2006, Bologna, Italy June 26, 2006

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 2 Overview MessageGrid: MessageGrid: Web-based software tool to help promote interactivity in the classroomWeb-based software tool to help promote interactivity in the classroom

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 3 Overview MessageGrid: MessageGrid: Web-based software tool to help promote interactivity in the classroomWeb-based software tool to help promote interactivity in the classroom Clemson laptop mandate Clemson laptop mandate The problem The problem Our solution: MessageGrid with Clickers and Ink Our solution: MessageGrid with Clickers and Ink Lexes (Lecture Exercises) Lexes (Lecture Exercises) Current and Future Work Current and Future Work Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 4 Very Few People Seem to Know …

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 5 Where in the World is Clemson University?

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 6 We are here! Where in the World is Clemson University?

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 7 Clemson Laptop Mandate Every student is required to have a laptop computer with wireless access to the Internet Every student is required to have a laptop computer with wireless access to the Internet

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 8 The Problem How can instructors use the laptop computers to advantage in and out of the classroom? How can instructors use the laptop computers to advantage in and out of the classroom?

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 9 Our Proposed Solution MessageGrid MessageGrid MessageGrid Clickers MessageGrid Clickers MessageGrid Ink MessageGrid Ink

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 10 MessageGrid Web-based Web-based Rows and columns Rows and columns Instructor designs grid Instructor designs grid Students post original submissions or replies to submissions Students post original submissions or replies to submissions Anything displayed by a browser Anything displayed by a browser Text, image, audio, video, animation, PowerPoint, …Text, image, audio, video, animation, PowerPoint, …

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 11 Student 1 Student 2

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 12 Pre-Lecture Reading Assignment

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 13 MessageGrid Clickers Eric Mazur Eric Mazur Harvard UniversityHarvard University Physics for non-majorsPhysics for non-majors Hardware clickersHardware clickers How to Become a Millionaire How to Become a Millionaire Lifeline question to audienceLifeline question to audience

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 14 Algorithm Analysis Results

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 15 MessageGrid Ink Students with Tablet PCs can submit Ink answers to questions Students with Tablet PCs can submit Ink answers to questions

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 16 MessageGrid Ink ITiCSE

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 17 Evolution Every semester since January 2004, more instructors use MessageGrid At semester’s end, instructors discuss possible improvements Suggestions with most instructor support are implemented

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 18 Focus of this Paper: Teaching Goals Reduced lecture Greater student participation

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 19 Sample Lex Formats Lex 1. Team Discussions, Individual Responses Lex 2. Ask, Discuss, then Ask Again Lex 3. Animate, Abstract, and Predict Lex 4. Trace Code, Verify with Animation

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 20 Lex 1. Individual Work or Team Discussion, Individual Responses

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 21 Student 1 Student 2

Lex 2. Ask, then Ask Again

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 23 Algorithm Analysis Question Analyze algorithms below and select among: (1) A is O(n log n) and B is O(n), (2) A is O(log n) and B is O(n2), (3) A is O(n log n) and B is O(n2), (4) A is O(n) and B is O(log n), (5) A is O(log log n) and B is O(n2), (6) None of the above.

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 24 Algorithm Analysis Results

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 25 Algorithm Analysis Question Revisited after Peer-discussion Correct answer: 3

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 26 Towers of Hanoi (Question) Brief applet demonstration of the solution to the problem for sizes n=3 and n=4 Question: How many moves does it take to solve the general n-disk problem? Options: (1) 2 n−1, (2) 2 n−1 −1, (3) 2 n−1 +1, (4) 2 n+1, (5) 2 n+1 −1, (6) 2 n+1 +1, (7) 2 n, (8) 2 n −1, (9) 2 n +1, (10) None of the above.

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 27 Towers of Hanoi (Didn’t show these results until after 2 nd question asked)

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 28 Towers of Hanoi (Revisited)

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 29 Mystery Recursion Question What does the following recursive algorithm do? What does the following recursive algorithm do? public static int Mystery(TreeNode t) { if (t == null) if (t == null) return 0; return 0; if ((t.left != null) || (t.right != null)) { if ((t.left != null) || (t.right != null)) { return Mystery(t.left) + Mystery(t.right); return Mystery(t.left) + Mystery(t.right); else else return 1; return 1; } // Mystery

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 30 Mystery Recursion Options Options: Options: 1.Counts total number of nodes in the tree, 2.Counts number of interior nodes, 3.Counts number of nodes with one child, 4.Adds the values of all nodes, 5.Adds the values of all interior nodes, 6.Adds the values of all leaves, 7.None of the above.

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 31 Mystery Recursion Algorithm

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 32 Mystery Recursion (Revisited) Sensed palpable unease among students Sensed palpable unease among students When asked “Who would like to change their answer? And from what to what?” When asked “Who would like to change their answer? And from what to what?” Six raised their handsSix raised their hands Of whomOf whom Four from #1 to #7 Four from #1 to #7 Two from #2 to #7 Two from #2 to #7

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 33 Mystery Algorithm Revisited + 6 = = = 24

Lex 3. Animate, Abstract, Predict Lex 4. Trace Code, Verify with Animation

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 35 Adam Goodbar Finite State Automata

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 36 Adam Goodbar Finite State Automata

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 37 Jerry Stasulis Graph Algorithms

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 38 Jerry Stasulis Graph Algorithms

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 39 Jerry Stasulis Graph Algorithms

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 40 Shameless Self-Promotion Poster: A Targeted Tablet PC Software Development Course Poster: A Targeted Tablet PC Software Development Course Demo of Tablet PC Student ProjectsDemo of Tablet PC Student Projects Time: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 Time: Wednesday, June 28, :40 PM - 4:10 PM3:40 PM - 4:10 PM Room: Patio of the Ranzani Building Room: Patio of the Ranzani Building

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 41 Clemson Laptop Mandate Every student is required to have a laptop computer with wireless access to the Internet Every student is required to have a laptop computer with wireless access to the Internet Fall 2006, Tablet Fall 2006, Tablet PC among university recommended units

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 42 Current Work: MessageGrid Ink

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 43 Current Work: MessageGrid Ink

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 44 Student Evaluation Student Assessment Results (a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(g) 1. Clickers helps me learn the course material Posting questions helps me recognize what is difficult in the reading Peer-discussion in class helps me better understand the course material Peer-discussion outside of class helps me better understand the course material Working alone during class helps me learn better than working with seatmates Clickers help me to focus on weaknesses in my understanding of the course material MessageGrid is easy-to-use Agree Disagree N/A

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 45 Current/Future Work Summer/Fall 2006 Summer/Fall 2006 Continued development of Ink capabilitiesContinued development of Ink capabilities Interconnectivity with handheld devicesInterconnectivity with handheld devices Fall 2006, Spring 2006 Fall 2006, Spring 2006 Access by non-Clemson faculty and studentsAccess by non-Clemson faculty and students Formal AssessmentFormal Assessment

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 46 Acknowledgments faculty fellowship from Clemson University ETS-OTEI Laptop Faculty Development Program 2003 Microsoft Content and Curriculum Development Grant (Tom Healy, Mgr.) 2005 Microsoft Research Tablet PC and Computing Curriculum Grant (Jane Prey, Mgr.)

R.P Pargas, Clemson Univ ITiCSE 2006 June 26 Bologna, Italy 47 Thank you for your kind attention.